Roll Call Tribute
Robert "Bob" Harms '55 November 29, 2016 10:51 AM updated: November 29, 2016 10:52 AM
Published in Gainesville (FL) Sun from Nov. 29 to Nov. 30, 2016
Robert Henry "Bob" Harms
HARMS,
ROBERT (BOB) HENRY
Robert (Bob) Henry Harms died peacefully on November 23, 2016 at 93 years old.
He was born on a farm 11 miles west of Dover, Arkansas in 1923, to Charles Harms and Stella Moore Harms.
He attended a one room school house where only one teacher taught all eight grades with an enrollment of fifty students. Bob graduated from Dover High School and attended Arkansas Tech University before entering into the U.S. Army. After World War II, he accepted a position at Springdale Arkansas as assistant Vocational Teacher with the responsibility of starting an 'on the farm' training program for returning veterans. After six years with this program, he enrolled at the University of Arkansas to complete his B.S. degree and remained there to complete his M.S. degree in Poultry Nutrition. After completing his MS, he transferred to Texas A&M University and earned his Ph.D. in Poultry Nutrition and immediately accepted a position at the University of Tennessee as an assistant professor. After two years, Dr. Harms joined the University of Florida as Associate Professor and Nutritionist.
In 1961, he was promoted to Professor and appointed as Department Chairman in 1962. He served his position until 1981 when he returned to teaching and research. In 1985, Dr. Harms was promoted to Graduate Research Professor. He served major Professors for 18 Ph.D. students and 38 for the M.S. degree. Nine of the Ph.D. students were employed at other Universities. Dr. Harms received many awards on Campus and internationally. These include Sigma Xi and the senior award for the entire United States, junior Gamma Sigma Delta award in Florida, Senior award, Professor of the Year award and from this award he was elected to Florida Blue Key, Gamma Sigma award. In 1988, Dr. Harms was selected as one of the five that had contributed the most to Florida Agriculture in the past 100 years. He was also elected to the Arkansas Tech Hall of Fame, the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame and the Poultry Science Hall of Fame. Dr. Harms Developed a feeding program for the commercial laying hen that is now used internationally. It was estimated to save 4 to 6 million dollars annually for the Poultryman in Florida. In a support letter for the Poultry Hall of Fame, one man wrote: 'I miss Bob, and the industry misses him as well. He is a Giant within the arena of Poultry Nutrition'. Dr. Harms retired after 46 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn Harms; his daughter Carolyn Thrasher; his son, Robert H. Harms, Jr.; his brother, Bill Harms; and his companion of many years, Willene Gay.
He is survived by his sister Betty Langston of Odessa, Texas, his 3 grandchildren, Elwin R. Thrasher, III of Tallahassee, Florida; Laura Clark (Pad) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and Charles Harms (Crissy) of Harrisburg, PA, and 7 great grandchildren.
Interment will be at New Hope Cemetery, Dover, Arkansas with a grave-side service with family and close friends.
Arrangements are in the care of MILAM FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES, 311 S. Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601. 352-376-5361.
www.milamfh.com
Funeral Home
Milam Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. of Gainesville
311 South Main Street Gainesville, FL 32601-1803
(800) 433-5361
Robert Henry "Bob" Harms
HARMS,
ROBERT (BOB) HENRY
Robert (Bob) Henry Harms died peacefully on November 23, 2016 at 93 years old.
He was born on a farm 11 miles west of Dover, Arkansas in 1923, to Charles Harms and Stella Moore Harms.
He attended a one room school house where only one teacher taught all eight grades with an enrollment of fifty students. Bob graduated from Dover High School and attended Arkansas Tech University before entering into the U.S. Army. After World War II, he accepted a position at Springdale Arkansas as assistant Vocational Teacher with the responsibility of starting an 'on the farm' training program for returning veterans. After six years with this program, he enrolled at the University of Arkansas to complete his B.S. degree and remained there to complete his M.S. degree in Poultry Nutrition. After completing his MS, he transferred to Texas A&M University and earned his Ph.D. in Poultry Nutrition and immediately accepted a position at the University of Tennessee as an assistant professor. After two years, Dr. Harms joined the University of Florida as Associate Professor and Nutritionist.
In 1961, he was promoted to Professor and appointed as Department Chairman in 1962. He served his position until 1981 when he returned to teaching and research. In 1985, Dr. Harms was promoted to Graduate Research Professor. He served major Professors for 18 Ph.D. students and 38 for the M.S. degree. Nine of the Ph.D. students were employed at other Universities. Dr. Harms received many awards on Campus and internationally. These include Sigma Xi and the senior award for the entire United States, junior Gamma Sigma Delta award in Florida, Senior award, Professor of the Year award and from this award he was elected to Florida Blue Key, Gamma Sigma award. In 1988, Dr. Harms was selected as one of the five that had contributed the most to Florida Agriculture in the past 100 years. He was also elected to the Arkansas Tech Hall of Fame, the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame and the Poultry Science Hall of Fame. Dr. Harms Developed a feeding program for the commercial laying hen that is now used internationally. It was estimated to save 4 to 6 million dollars annually for the Poultryman in Florida. In a support letter for the Poultry Hall of Fame, one man wrote: 'I miss Bob, and the industry misses him as well. He is a Giant within the arena of Poultry Nutrition'. Dr. Harms retired after 46 years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn Harms; his daughter Carolyn Thrasher; his son, Robert H. Harms, Jr.; his brother, Bill Harms; and his companion of many years, Willene Gay.
He is survived by his sister Betty Langston of Odessa, Texas, his 3 grandchildren, Elwin R. Thrasher, III of Tallahassee, Florida; Laura Clark (Pad) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and Charles Harms (Crissy) of Harrisburg, PA, and 7 great grandchildren.
Interment will be at New Hope Cemetery, Dover, Arkansas with a grave-side service with family and close friends.
Arrangements are in the care of MILAM FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES, 311 S. Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601. 352-376-5361.
www.milamfh.com
Funeral Home
Milam Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. of Gainesville
311 South Main Street Gainesville, FL 32601-1803
(800) 433-5361
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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